WSPA 7NEWS

Man found beaten to death under Upstate bridge

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) – A man beaten to death was found under an Upstate bridge Monday morning.

According to the Spartanburg Police Department, officers responded at 3 a.m. to a welfare check in the 100 block of North Forest Street.

Once officers arrived, they met with the caller on the stairs of Miracle Hill Rescue Mission.

The caller told officers that a man, who was possibly dead, was under the bridge.

It was a team effort for officers and the Spartanburg Fire department to safely get underneath the bridge but once they did, that’s where they found a man unresponsive, who they pronounced dead shortly after.

“Ultimately, we are looking at this as a suspicious death that was caused by the hands of another,” said Captain Tim Metz, Spartanburg Police.

The police department said the victim appeared to have been hit several times with a blunt object in the head and neck.

“Certainly, someone caused injury to another, and it was enough to cause this individual’s death so that’s absolutely a concern,” said Captain Metz.

This death is being investigated by the police department and the Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office as a homicide.

The Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as 31-year-old Steven Shawn Smith.

The coroner said Smith was believed to be homeless and possibly living under the bridge with other people.

While officers spent the entirety of Monday morning and afternoon at the scene, they said the public’s help with any information could provide them with exactly what they need.

“It may seem insignificant to them but that could be the one small piece that brings justice to this gentleman and provides the family with some answers,” said Captain Metz.  

Police said the man was not affiliated with Miracle Hill in any way, it’s just where he was found.